After the ten-minute trial ended, Eevee and Magnemite stepped out of the gravity room.
Looking at his two Pokémon, Owen felt a twinge of regret. If only Eevee had learned Reflect as well. Is her mental power still not quite high enough?
And if Magnemite could have picked up the move Gravity while it was at it, that would have been the ultimate win, Owen thought greedily.
"Vee??" "Kuo-yi??"
The two Pokémon looked at a deep-in-thought Owen, completely baffled. Ms. Wei, the guide, also chimed in: "How was the experience?"
"Excellent," Owen replied. He truly meant it. Magnemite's breakthrough was all thanks to the pressure of the gravity field.
The old manager shook his head. Learning two new moves in one ten-minute session was a first even for this facility—of course, the experience was good.
Ms. Wei smiled and resumed her duties. "So, where would you like to visit next?"
Solar House, Flight Plaza, the Botanical and Berry Gardens, the Artificial Waterfall and Ice Caves, the Rockery, and the Aquarium... Owen was here for the full tour, and he wasn't being polite. He wanted to see it all.
Eevee, perched on Owen's shoulder, toured Imperial Capital University with him. To her surprise, there were actually places that caught her interest! Aside from the gaming rooms, the university had independent movie theaters.
The internet-addicted, drama-binging Eevee instantly perked up. She asked Owen repeatedly: This is actually a school?? A school like this... was simply too... too good!
"I didn't lie to you, did I? The sweat you put in now determines which university you'll be playing games and watching movies in later."
"This place has top-tier facilities."
"I'm not scaring you, but that school near where we got off the bullet train? They don't even have air conditioning in the summer..."
Eevee nodded solemnly. No effort in senior year, only tears in university. She understood now.
From morning until late afternoon, Owen and Eevee explored. They even grabbed a meal at the campus canteen. Overall, the day at Imperial Capital University solidified Owen's resolve to attend a prestigious school. This level of heritage provided an immense boost to a trainer.
If he could train here during high school, Owen felt Eevee would be even stronger by now. The gravity field alone was miles ahead of the wooden stake training they did in Nanwu Town; combined with automated attack launchers, it would be the perfect place to train the Anticipation ability.
At 4:00 PM, Owen stood outside the gates, looking up at the university name.
"When I fill out my applications, Imperial Capital University is definitely the top choice..."
"Though I say that, we'll have to wait until we visit Magic City University to finalize the order."
Eevee chimed in with an impressed (if slightly confused) cry. The trip to Imperial Capital University was a wrap.
The next day, Owen began filtering through the specialized training gyms the senior from Renmin University had mentioned. Based on online reviews, he locked onto the "Rain Cloud Training Gym."
This place was fascinating. Its main selling point was "Charging Special Training." It served Electric-type Pokémon exclusively and refused to host any other types.
"Rumor has it the owner is a professional trainer, and the gym is just his side business," Owen noted, scrolling through his phone.
Now that was a success story. As everyone knows, in the Pokémon world, a Gym Leader without a side hustle isn't a good Gym Leader. Translated to Earth: a professional trainer without a side business isn't a good professional trainer.
Looking at the pros in Fairview, aside from Lynnea's dad being a police captain, Ethan and Zoe seemed to be purely administrative. Compared to those stable "iron rice bowl" jobs, Owen felt being an owner-operator was the faster way to wealth.
How could a professional trainer be strong without money? Just look at Steven Stone, the heir to Devon Corporation, or the superstar Diantha.
"Since it's run by a professional trainer, it should be reliable."
Because the owner was a local Electric-type master, Rain Cloud was famous—and expensive. Owen looked at the price list, feeling a bit dizzy.
Electric-type Charging Package: Upgrade Thundershock to Thunderbolt. Starts at 10,000 Yuan (includes the "Grand Spa" service).
The exact final price wasn't listed. Owen gritted his teeth—he was going! If he trained Magnemite himself, he didn't know how long it would take to reach the power output required for Thunderbolt.
Since he was already here, as long as the price wasn't a total scam, he didn't mind the cost.
He was mostly interested in the service listed in the parentheses.
As the senior had said, you pay for peace of mind. When a Pokémon is charged with electricity exceeding its current limits, it can be painful or even physically damaging.
Owen had seen this in the anime. If Magnemite were stronger, Owen might consider taking it to the wilderness during a thunderstorm to absorb natural lightning, but Magnemite was too weak for Mother Nature right now.
A safe, monitored facility with "spa" services was the better choice for a rookie.
Following his GPS, Owen arrived at one of the five Rain Cloud branches in the Imperial Capital. Inside, he picked out the prettiest receptionist and walked up.
"Excuse me... about this package to upgrade Thundershock to Thunderbolt..."
"Hello! I'm happy to assist you," the receptionist said with a professional smile. "Are you interested in our basic charging package? Also, do you have a membership?"
Nope!
"No," Owen shook his head. "Are there any perks to membership?"
"There are some discounts, but you need a referral to register," she replied smoothly. "Are you a rookie trainer?"
Owen nodded.
"If you're a rookie, you can enjoy a 12% discount during the winter break. Would you like to proceed with the basic charging package?"
The package was aimed at Pokémon that knew Thundershock but hadn't mastered Thunderbolt. Professionals would use their equipment to help the Pokémon gradually adapt to higher-intensity currents.
Owen nodded again. "My Pokémon is a Magnemite. What's the specific price?"
"If it's a Magnemite, we also throw in a special lubricating fluid for the screws and magnets."
"..."
Magnemite's screws and magnets can rotate freely; the faster they spin, the stronger the magnetic force they emit. So... that's what the lubricant was for?
"As for the final price, we'll need to give your Magnemite a physical exam first to make a judgment. The exam fee is 888 Yuan."
Before Owen could even ask about the lubricant, the receptionist's words made his stomach churn. Exam first, pricing later? This smells like a massive trap!
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